Jon Tester, Denny Rehberg strategies diverge in Montana

KALISPELL, Mont. – Sen. Jon Tester and Rep. Denny Rehberg are locked in possibly the closest Senate race in the country, but their final weekend of campaigning suggests it’s anything but.

Tester is on an 800-mile sprint across this majestic state, energizing his base and trying to persuade Mitt Romney backers to split their ticket and give the Democratic incumbent another six years in the Senate.

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Rehberg, meanwhile, is nowhere to be seen on the campaign trail. He’s employing the classic, play-it-safe strategy of a frontrunner running down the clock — even though polls indicate the race is a true tossup.

The six-term GOP congressman and his campaign are convinced they’re on the cusp of victory in the Republican-leaning state. So after spending the past week campaigning with Republican big guns like Sen. John McCain, Rehberg is laying low and doing his talking through TV ads, including a rare testimonial spot from Romney.

The idea: Keep the race focused on the national narrative that electing Rehberg would give the GOP a shot at the Senate majority. And don’t risk an eleventh-hour gaffe on the campaign trail that could turn the focus back to the candidates’ personalities just before Election Day.

Still, Rehberg’s public disappearance the weekend before Election Day is unusual in such a close race. He has no public plans to hit the campaign trail the final days and is staying away from the media for the most part. Instead, his team is focusing on getting supporters to the polls and relying on an onslaught of TV ads.

Rehberg declined a request for an interview.

“Over the last few weeks, Denny has crisscrossed the state over 4,300 miles and held more than 35 campaign rallies in towns large and small, and the crowds and energy have been nothing short of amazing,” Rehberg spokesman Chris Bond said in an email. “Denny’s schedule for this weekend is still fluid but he’ll definitely be talking with voters and campaign volunteers in order to get out the vote and encourage folks to keep up the great work in the final days of the race.”

Tester, by contrast, kicked off his final barnstorming tour in this growing town nestled near Glacier National Park in mountainous Northwest Montana, crisscrossing the state to convince enough would-be Mitt Romney voters that he’s likeable enough to send back to Washington for six more years. The three day-swing will take Tester through the state’s seven media markets.

“We need to get out here and make our voices heard,” Tester told a packed crowd at a seniors center, with top Montana Democrats standing behind him.

The candidates’ diverging strategies come as the Montana race has grown even more crucial in recent days for Republicans, who need to net at least four seats – or three if Romney wins the White House – to take back the Senate. Suddenly, a Republican seat that had been viewed as a lock – Indiana – is in serious danger of slipping away, as is another GOP-held seat in Democratic-leaning Massachusetts.

Readers' Comments (5)

Hiding from the voters may rightly reap Rehberg their wrath. It smacks of taking their votes for granted and a kind of elitist isolationism from the very people Rehberg ostensibly seeks to represent. How can he represent them when he won't even get out there and be with them?

Rehberg, to me, lacks the character we should require of our national senators. His lawsuit against the city and firefighters for property damage supposedly done when the firefighters put out a dangerous out-of-control field fire on Rehberg's property smacks of a greedy selfishness and shocking ingratitude beneath the senatorial character needed. Rehberg was looking for what he thought might be fast payday, some easy big bucks, and he abused our legal system to try to get those bucks. Montanans would do better to elect a real Montanan man of higher character, Senator Tester.

'ARE Hiding the TRUTH ' about their Records and Reasons to be in office:

Tester: Lied to get elected in 2006 by linking Conrad Burns to the Jack A. Abramoff Scandal and in the end. It was proved the Burns was not part of that fiasco after John was elected. He 'Never' commented on that path to office after that.

Later (now) …... John Tester 'is' involved in the 'cover up' of the Untimely Death, Dismemberment and Torture of Jacob Tate in the Sangin Region of Afhganistan on January 2nd, 2011. The Investigation is ongoing so he 'too' can claim Plausible Denial of the information.

Rehberg: Currently under a GAG Order for his involvement in a Montana Based Sting operation for selling Control Parts to Iran through a company (mine) in Bozeman, Montana. Also, under the same GAG order is involved with all elements of the F.B.I. Investigation of the same undercover sting operation which he sponsered.

Later (now) …... Denny Rehberg 'is' involved in the 'cover up' of the Untimely Death, Dismemberment and Torture of Jacob Tate in the Sangin Region of Afhganistan on January 2nd, 2011. The Investigation is ongoing so he 'too' can claim Plausible Denial of the information.

'BOTH' John & Denny: Can't comment as the above as the primary architect of the F.B.I. Sting Operation was the C.I.A. Who worked the plan through the Montana Based Office Of the F.B.I. And the C.I.A. To eliminate and traceability to the National Offices of Both Agencies.

Both Candidates of full knowledge of my web site: http://www.truthaboutthecia.or... and will not comment on it's content 'or' activities herein with regards to the State of Montana's involvement and knowledge.

They Are Both Involved.............. Trust Me........... because I am …...... and I know they know about it.

How could any sane person possibly choose Rehberg over a hardworking Montana farmer who is self made and who fights for the people of the state and their wild lands and resources. Rehberg is simply talk radio mentality and it shows. A lousy congressman will make a lousier senator.

Tester is not the innocent farmer you portrait, and never has been. Six years ago he was elected on a platform of fighting the D.C. culture. His promise was to stand up for common sense Montana values and to stop putting debt on the backs of future generations. Instead, he reversed his opposition to earmarks, voted for Obamacare over the cries of 60% of the voters and has supported bailouts and big spending to the tune of 7 trillion in new debt his generation will never pay off. He is the largest receiver of PAC money in all of Congress after saying "I will never let lobbyists ride in my truck". He has voted with Obama 95% of the time in a state that does not support big government solutions. The truth is Rehberg does side with the people of the state on most issues and is not hiding at all. During the healthcare debate, Tester was nowhere to be found at a critical time to hear from his constituents. He cancelled public meetings in my town so he didn't have the listen, then holed himself up in Washington and cast the deciding vote. Rehberg was everywhere, holding rallies in every major city and town. Politico can write whatever they please, but Denny does not hide. Tester, on the other hand, sold us a bill of goods. He is more like the tonic salesman on Bonanza that Ben Cartwright.

skareling.....Tester is also the con man who cost many farmers and ranchers in Eastern Montana to lose their money over a business scam....he left the Miles City area with the clothes on his back and other people's hard earned money in his pocket.